Steve Dirickson b894 WestWin wrote:
>
> Of course, if it's truly "random", or even the "pseudo-random" variety
> that we get from computers, duplications are not only allowed, but
> expected a certain percentage of the time. Indeed, a system that actively
> avoids duplication would not qualify as a random-selection system, and
> could, depending on the use of the non-random selections, land the user
> in hot water.
>
> Steve
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hp3000-l [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 1997 4:21 PM
> To: HP3000-L
> Subject: Re: Random employee selection
>
> We used to re-calculate everyone's 'check-digit' and select those ending
> in a particular number avoiding dups from last year if need be.
>
> >----------
> >From:  Jesus Valdes[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent:  Tuesday, October 21, 1997 11:39AM
> >To:    [log in to unmask]
> >Subject:       [HP3000-L] Random employee selection
> >
> >Gentle listers:
> >       I'm writing a COBOL program that will select a random sample of
> >employees. Does anyone know of a random number generator function that
> >will allow me to pick employees using employee id and date of birth? The
> >selection should change from year to year.
> >       Thanks in advance for your help.
> >
The original posting should probably have said that the selections
"could" change from year to year, as it is theoretically possible to
randomly select the same employees every year.  This is OK although we
need to make sure that the same employee is not selected more than once
in the same year.  I also have been told that there may be COBOL
INTRINSICS that could be used for this.  Is this a possible solution?
TIA